Consulting Experience

As a Managing Director with HVS Denver, Brett’s 15-year career in hospitality spans hotel operations, management, and development. He has overseen or conducted more than 500 assignments, spanning appraisals, market studies, and feasibility studies for boutique and branded hotels, lodges, and resorts throughout the Americas and primarily focusing on proposed full-service hotels and resorts. Brett works to match a client’s scope of perspective on a hotel project from its initial stages, asking investigative questions in the field; reviewing project proposals, plans, and performance metrics; evaluating proposed development sites; and analyzing data from comparable hotel sales and competitive properties. Brett’s mixed-use experience includes the Doral Golf Resort and Spa in Miami; the PGA National Golf Resort in Palm Springs, Florida; the Mammoth Ski Resort in Mammoth Lakes, California; the Steamboat Springs Ski Resort in Steamboat Springs, Colorado; and several properties in Aspen, Colorado. Brett has also been involved with the redevelopment of historic buildings in Albuquerque, Denver, and Buffalo, as well as hotel transactions in top resort markets in the U.S. and Caribbean. Brett graduated from the University of Mount Union in Alliance, Ohio. He is a certified general appraiser in Colorado and surrounding states.

Testimonials

"HVS was hired by our client to perform an appraisal for an ad valorem litigation case. Brett's knowledge of the hotel industry and its participants was beyond comparison. Cross-examination by an attorney can be very stressful and test the most seasoned appraiser's poise; Brett's self-assurance in his experience and core knowledge of the hotel market was clearly evidenced in his appraisal and conviction under examination." – Ms. Jaramillo, Sterling Property Tax Specialists

"HVS has done a number of projects for us, and we have been totally satisfied with the quality and professionalism of their work. I think the best compliment we can pay them is that we have retained them for a number of projects due to the quality and usefulness of the final product! We would certainly recommend their services to others needing this level of expertise and insight." – Gary Corbett, Fair Oak Farms

"While a market feasibility study can be thought of as an expensive soft cost that may not be needed, we have found the opposite and get them performed ASAP after we have made a decision to take a deep-dive look into a potential new construction site. With that, HVS really helps us make timely, informed decisions with prompt report turnaround that either justifies our direction or forces us to take a second look, saving us time, resources and opportunities." – Todd Torvinen, EVP ZMC Hotels, LLC

"Brett Russell has a great deal of industry and market knowledge and was able to bring a fresh perspective to our project. He provided insightful information in a timely manner that allowed us to validate a number of our assumptions while challenging others." – Tommy Nigro, Stonebridge Companies

"HVS has provided very useful information on many of our projects for the past four years, whether it's purchasing or construction of new hotel. The details and analysis in the report are remarkably important for making decisions." – Mr. Vaghela, JVD Enterprises

Education

University of Mount Union
Bachelor of Science – Business and Information Systems (1997)

Press Coverage

My Articles

Boulder is a target market for hotel companies and brands. The city’s strong corporate and leisure demand, combined with a major university, makes it a perfect hotel market. Despite the ideal hotel environment with strong market performance, new hotel development has been limited.

This article focuses on the hotels in Summit and Eagle Counties that provide a bed base for the Interstate 70/Front Range ski resorts in Colorado, such as Vail, Breckenridge, Loveland, Copper Mountain, Winter Park, Arapahoe Basin, and Keystone.

This year marks a decade since the last peak in commercial real estate. Speakers at the 2017 CREF conference predict stability in lending activity, though tax and labor issues could curtail new construction.

Traditional hotel development in ski resort towns has slowed nearly to a halt, with barriers like limited land and high costs putting pressure on new builds. But hotel demand and performance are on the rise and the “barriers” may not be so imposing.

The past ten years have ushered in the introduction of more new hotel brands than any time in modern history. Most of these are geared toward the Millennial Generation, with hotel companies creating concepts to capture this vital segment of demand.

Denver’s hotel industry is leading the nation in development trends and overall performance. Experts at the annual lodging conference, Colorado’s biggest, also shared insights on ski resort markets in the state.

Presentations and conversations at the 2015 ALIS conference touched on everything from new brands and supply to how falling oil prices, a rising dollar, and stability in the capital markets are affecting prospects for U.S. hotels.

Colorado’s ski resorts draw millions of annual visitors. The lodging industry throughout the Colorado mountains comprises hotels and privately rented rooms and condos. How could a shift in this balance affect hotel performance in the years ahead?